Exercise of the Week

Overhead press

The overhead press is a great exercise for shoulder development though everything from your arms, chest though your abs, back and legs work hard to lift and stabilise the weight.

The overhead press is performed by taking a bar, placing a barbell across the front of your shoulders then pressing the weight overhead.

The following are key points on how to perform the exercise correctly.

Standing with your feet shoulder width apart, grip the bar and place on the front of your shoulders with a slightly wider than shoulder width grip and have you elbows in front of the bar.

Maintain good posture by sticking your chest out, looking straight ahead and squeezing your glutes. Your knees should remain locked out during the entire movement.

Now you’re in position the only problem to get the bar from the start to finish point is that there’s something in the way – your head. So to counter this when the bar reaches your chin tilt your head back slightly so the bar doesn’t make contact but keep looking forward. When the bar passes your forehead shift your torso forward and lower your head.

At the top position breathe out and lock out your arms, squeeze your shoulders, traps and back.
The overhead press is an excellent addition to your program if you want to see some serious gains in strength and power.

Next week: inverted rows.

Mike.